Abstract: A sports ball retrieval and dispensing device includes a ball retrieving and dispensing receptacle and a handle constructed of respective pluralities of separate parts having respective assembled conditions in which the receptacle parts are mounted to one another and the handle parts are mounted to one another and coupled to the assembled receptacle so as to enable use of the device in ball retrieving and dispensing modes of operation. The receptacle and/or handle also are convertible to respective disassembled conditions in which at least some receptacle parts are taken apart from one another and/or at least some handle parts are taken apart from one another such that the device occupies a reduced volume of space so as to enable packaging and shipping of the device.

Abstract: A racquet stringing machine includes a base, a racquet mounting frame attached to the base for mounting and securing a racquet to be strung with string, a string clamping device which holds the clamped end of the string in place relative to the racquet frame while tension is being applied to the tensioning end of the string and a string tensioner having a string tensioner frame mounted to the base in offset relation to the racquet mounting frame, a tension setting mechanism movably mounted to the string tensioner frame for applying a desired amount of tension to the strings and a string gripper mounted to the tension setting mechanism for holding the tensioning end of the string while tension is applied.

Abstract: The invention relates to strings for stringed musical instruments, fishing equipment, and sports racquets which are exposed to a suitable solvent or suitable elasticizer compatible with the materials contained in the fibers, bonding resins, or coating resins in the strings, such that partial dissolution of the material in the suitable solvent occurs or absorption of the suitable elasticizer occurs so as to increase the elasticity, increase the flexibility, increase the ductility, or increase the resiliency of the strings.

Abstract: A device can be provided in different embodiments for holding different tensions in different length string sections of a sports racquet stringing bed. In one embodiment, a strip of material is applied on the periphery of the head portion of the racquet and is compressed under the string portions extending between pairs of adjacent stringing holes. In another embodiment, the tension holding device is a plurality of cylindrical bands of compressible material which fit about the string portions and within the grommets of the racquet. In both embodiments, the material is compressed by the string portion to generate sufficient frictional force therebetween to prevent slippage of the string portion relative thereto and thereby hold the different length string sections under the predetermined amount of differential tension.

Abstract: A sports racket has a handle and a multi-frame. The multi-frame includes a primary frame defining a throat connected to the handle and a hoop-shaped head connected to the throat and encompassing an open region. The head has a plurality of stringing holes defined therethrough for attaching stringing to the head and across the open region. The multi-frame also includes supplementary frames and ribs. The supplementary frames are disposed in spaced relation and adjacent to opposite sides of the primary frame. The supplementary frames are coextensive with all or a portion of the primary frame head, plus all or a portion of the primary frame throat. The ribs are spaced from one another and extend between and rigidly interconnect the supplementary frames with coextensive portions of the primary frame. The ribs and supplementary frames serve to increase the stiffness of the primary frame, reducing axial and torsional deflections thereof upon striking a ball by the stringing across the open region of the head.

Abstract: A sports racket has a handle and a multi-frame. The multi-frame includes a primary frame defining a throat connected to the handle and a hoop-shaped head connected to the throat and encompassing an open region. The head has a plurality of stringing holes defined therethrough for attaching stringing to the head and across the open region. The multi-frame also includes supplementary frames and ribs. The supplementary frames are disposed in spaced relation and adjacent to opposite sides of the primary frame. The supplementary frames are coextensive with all or a portion of the primary frame head, plus all or a portion of the primary frame throat. The ribs are spaced from one another and extend between and rigidly interconnect the supplementary frames with coextensive portions of the primary frame. The ribs and supplementary frames serve to increase the stiffness of the primary frame, reducing axial and torsional deflections thereof upon striking a ball by the stringing across the open region of the head.

Abstract: A racket frame, such as for a tennis racket, has a head portion, a handle portion and a throat portion extending between and interconnecting the head and handle portions. The head portion encompasses an open region and has a plurality of stringing holes for attaching stringing to the head portion and across the open region. The throat portion is in the form of a pair of legs in a generally V-shaped configuration. Different cross-sectional dimensional relationships are incorporated in the racket frame to tailor racket frame stiffness. A first cross-sectional dimensional relationship relates to location of the maximum cross-sectional height of the racket frame in a lower extent of the head portion thereof so as to define a dual reverse tapered profile along the cross-sectional height of the racket frame.

Abstract: A device for dampening vibrations in a sports racket having a strung striking surface includes an elongated elastic flexible hollow tubular member disposable in interweaved relation with a plurality of strings on the racket striking surface, and inelastic end members on the opposite ends of the tubular member for securing the tubular member in a stretched condition between its opposite ends to a pair of spaced strings and for retaining the member in the interweaved relation with the plurality of strings. The hollow tubular member defines a central bore having opposite openings at the opposite ends of the member. Each inelastic end member includes an inner element having a stem portion inserted within one opposite end opening for attachment in frictional interfitting relation with one end of the elastic tubular member, and an outer hook-like element for anchoring the one opposite end of the elastic member to one of the pair of strings.

Abstract: A racket frame, such as for a tennis racket, has a head portion, a handle portion and a throat portion extending between and interconnecting the head and handle portions. The head portion encompasses an open region and has a first plurality of stringing holes for attaching stringing to the head portion and across the open region. The throat portion is in the form of a pair of legs in a generally V-shaped configuration. The frame also includes a second plurality of non-stringing holes defined in one or both of the head and throat portions for forming voids in the material thereof to reduce the weight and tailor the stiffness thereof in a manner which reduces axial and torsional deflections of the head portion upon striking a ball by the stringing across the open region of the head portion.

Abstract: Shock and vibration is suppressed in a racquet having a tubular frame of metal, graphite, fiberglass, or the like, by a bar or column of shock-and-vibration-absorbing material such as foam. The bar is 5 inches to 10 inches in length and is weaved over and under the vertical strings in the region, between the handle and the nearest cross or horizontal string, where a ball or shuttlecock would not impact in normal play. The ends of the bar are brought through the end spaces between the string and the frame of the racquet and tucked under the frame. The bar is composed of layers of the shock-and-frequency absorbing material. The material is soft, light and resilient. The inner layer or layers has a higher density than the outer layer. The frequency for which the maximum absorption occurs decreases progressively from the inner layer or layers outwardly. The resonant frequency of a typical racquet is about 650 hertz. The predominant absorption frequency of the outer layers of the bar is between 500 and 2000 hertz.

Abstract: Weight-and-balance adjusting assemblies for use with a racquet for racquet sports. The adjusting assemblies in each case includes a weight having an adhesive formed of an acrylic foam, with very high-bonding properties, secured to its base surface. The unbonded face of the adhesive is secured when an adjusting assembly is in use, secured to a selected part of the racquet. The weight is composed of lead which has a low melting point and is readily moldable to mate with the surface of the part of the racquet to which it is secured or is to be secured. Because of the bonding to the racquet by the adhesive, an adjusting assembly and its weight form an integral part of the racquet. The package includes a card to which a plurality of adjusting assemblies are removably secured. The card carries adjusting assemblies with weights of different magnitudes for the same parts of a racquet and adjusting assemblies for different parts of a racquet.